What a Spanish heist series teaches us about tension, timing and why every great story needs a laugh. By Dr Erin O’Dwyer
Every now and then, a piece of screen storytelling grabs me by the collar and doesn’t let go. These series are riveting, refreshing and entirely consuming.
In the past, I’ve raved to everyone who would listen about series like The Bridge, The Killing, The Bureau– shows that marry fast-paced plots with searing social criticism. Throw in some firearms, a few fast cars, fabulous scenery – and I’m hooked.
My most recent flame is the Spanish thriller series Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). I’m very late to the party – it’s from 2017 – but there’s five seasons, so plenty to go on with. It’s been described as “TV’s most addictive series”.
Flawed but addictive storytelling
Actually I wouldn’t go that far. The only TV series which has ever kept me up past midnight is Scandi-noir The Bridge. But amidst the dross that populates Netflix’s back catalogue, this Spanish series is a standout.
Money Heist is about a crew of thieves who take over Spain’s Royal Mint. But their goal isn’t just to rob it – it’s to print billions in new money.
Part thriller, part social commentary, part comedy, Money Heistdelivers on almost every level: it has tension, plot twists, and substance.
It’s not flawless. The two main romantic leads lack chemistry, and the dialogue moves at such lightning speed that reading the subtitles is a tough after-work workout for non-Spanish speakers.
But it’s fun, funny and infinitely enjoyable.
A masterclass in narrative construction
At its best, Money Heist is also a masterclass in narrative construction. Take a look at the brilliant paella of essential storytelling ingredients it throws together:
- Complication and resolution: From the plotting of the heist to the intricate escape plan, the stakes rise with every episode.
- Social themes: It’s not just a robbery, it’s a statement about money: who has it and who gets it. The thieves become folk heroes, challenging capitalist structures and rooting their actions in rebellious morality.
- Time pressure: The clock is always ticking. Will the escape tunnel be finished before the police break in?
- Flawed heroes: The team is brilliant but human – they make mistakes, fall in love, bicker, get drunk, get killed.
- Excellence and obsession: The Professor (a very dishy Alvaro Morte), the heist’s mastermind, is a perfectionist whose internal drivers pull the whole operation – and the show – together.
- Meaningful character arcs: Every scene, every subplot connects back to the story’s central throughline. Nothing is wasted.
But what ultimately elevates Money Heist is this: it never forgets to be entertaining.
The law of comic relief in storytelling
The creators of Money Heist know that tension without relief breaks the audience. And so they give us moments of levity – a dance party inside the mint, a comically inept police force, the hot-headed glamour puss Tokyo, and awkward but loveable Denver.
Comic relief doesn’t dilute the drama – it deepens it. It humanises characters, resets the emotional tone, and creates a runway toward the next moment of tension. It’s the peaks and troughs that keep viewers tuning in, episode after episode, season after season.
What storytellers can learn
Every serious story needs space to breathe. Every tragedy needs laughter to make it bearable. And every audience needs a break from the edge of their seat.
So if you’re building a story – for pod, page, screen, stage or brand – ask yourself:
- Where are the moments your audience gets to exhale?
- Are your characters allowed to be quirky, warm, authentic or unexpectedly funny?
- Is your tension working because it’s in contrast to moments of lightness?
- Does your humour reveal something deeper about your characters or theme?
- What moments of levity could make your story more human — and more memorable?
Money Heist doesn’t just follow the formula. It makes its own. And it’s a reminder that when we entertain our audiences, they will also tune in to the more serious messages we seek to impart.
📖 We help people, brands and business tell better stories. Get in touch at editor@goodprosestudios.com
